Phnom Penh: News that Phnom Penh’s preventative measures have been extended for a further 14 days has been met with disappointment across the capital. Entertainment businesses, particularly, have been hit hard by the pandemic. The already month-long ban on alcohol sales, now extended for a further two weeks, is putting even more pressure on business owners.

The ongoing ban on alcohol is significantly impacting hospitality, industry and breweries. Many of the smaller companies are wondering whether they will be able to survive until the restrictions are lifted. The owner of Neil’s 24-Hour Mini Mart on Riverside said the news wasn’t unexpected:

“I’m not surprised. It’s two more weeks, it could be another two more weeks who knows. It disappoints as a business owner and here I speak for everybody in the area. It’s a little bit too much. The businesses that are losing the money… How much longer can we kick the can down the road before it takes effect. People have had to close and more people lose their jobs. It’s just… yeah, it’s not good.”

He told EAC News that he keeps stocking up in the hope of being able to sell, and is losing money doing so:

“Yeah, exactly so we just stock up again prior too, again all the bars and restaurants they bought in the kegs, hoping the costumers would come back. They not only just buy alcohol. They buy everything else that’s in the store. So we stock that up too. Based on the fact that they’re going to buy a bottle of wine and a bag of crisps, etc. etc. So we buy more crisps but they go out of date too, so it’s a knock-on effect. It just continuously costs money.”

The owner of Riverside restaurant Olala, Jack Ngo, says his business profits are down 80%:

“So far, we had a hard time to survive and after the extension of two weeks, we had a hard time. We hardly can support our workers. We have no choice, but to follow the government regulations. So that’s why we cannot do anything until the restrictions are lifted.”

President of AmCham, Anthony Galliano, was surprised the suspensions have been extended:

“That was not expected to be honest, we will have to cope. It’s an essential necessity for the time being for the situation with this delta variant having caused some deep concerns. And the third dose has been rolled out and hopefully with the third dose being rolled out there will be less concern about the delta variant and the impact that will have on the population here.”

Galliano expressed hopes that things will get back to normal soon, with a safe environment for everyone to enjoy themselves in.